US8523276B2 - Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting - Google Patents

Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US8523276B2
US8523276B2 US13/347,351 US201213347351A US8523276B2 US 8523276 B2 US8523276 B2 US 8523276B2 US 201213347351 A US201213347351 A US 201213347351A US 8523276 B2 US8523276 B2 US 8523276B2
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
front panel
structure element
vehicle
technical front
body shell
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US13/347,351
Other versions
US20120104801A1 (en
Inventor
Michael Flandin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Renault SAS
Original Assignee
Renault SAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Renault SAS filed Critical Renault SAS
Priority to US13/347,351 priority Critical patent/US8523276B2/en
Publication of US20120104801A1 publication Critical patent/US20120104801A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US8523276B2 publication Critical patent/US8523276B2/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
    • B60K11/00—Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units
    • B60K11/02—Arrangement in connection with cooling of propulsion units with liquid cooling
    • B60K11/04—Arrangement or mounting of radiators, radiator shutters, or radiator blinds
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
    • B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
    • B62D25/082—Engine compartments
    • B62D25/084—Radiator supports
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D25/00—Superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units; Parts or details thereof not otherwise provided for
    • B62D25/08—Front or rear portions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
    • B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
    • B62D65/00—Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
    • B62D65/02—Joining sub-units or components to, or positioning sub-units or components with respect to, body shell or other sub-units or components
    • B62D65/04—Joining preassembled modular units composed of sub-units performing diverse functions, e.g. engine and bonnet
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49616—Structural member making
    • Y10T29/49622—Vehicular structural member making
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49764—Method of mechanical manufacture with testing or indicating
    • Y10T29/49778—Method of mechanical manufacture with testing or indicating with aligning, guiding, or instruction
    • Y10T29/4978—Assisting assembly or disassembly
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49782—Method of mechanical manufacture of a slide fastener
    • Y10T29/49783—Method of mechanical manufacture of a slide fastener of slider
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T29/00—Metal working
    • Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
    • Y10T29/49826—Assembling or joining
    • Y10T29/49895—Associating parts by use of aligning means [e.g., use of a drift pin or a "fixture"]

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for mounting, on a motor vehicle, at least one transverse underbody structure element and a technical front panel which is intended to be mounted at a longitudinal end of a body shell structure element of the vehicle.
  • the invention relates more specifically to a method for mounting, on a motor vehicle, at least one transverse underbody structure element and a technical front panel which is intended to be mounted at a longitudinal end of a body shell structure element comprising two transversely opposed rails and two transversely opposed parts of the body shell structure element.
  • document FR-A-2 838 094 discloses how to mount vertically upward the assembly that consists of the cross member and of the technical front panel resting on said cross member.
  • the transverse size of the technical front panel makes it impossible to mount directly in the vertical direction. This is the case, for example, when the transverse size of the technical front panel exceeds the transverse size of teardrop mounts.
  • the technical front panel it is known practice for the technical front panel to be positioned on the cross member that forms the underbody structure element, to then tilt it forward slightly and then attach the cross member under the teardrop mounts, the technical front panel then slipping in front of the teardrop mounts, before finally angling the technical front face back against the longitudinal end of the body shell structure element before attaching it thereto.
  • the final position of the technical front panel is determined by its prior positioning on the underbody structure element.
  • the technical front panel also carries a fair number of points of attachment for vehicle bodywork elements, particularly attachment points for a vehicle front bumper or fender.
  • the bumper or fender has to be fitted very accurately with respect to the vehicle body shell structure element which is intended to carry bodywork elements such as the hood, the wings or the headlamps, with which the bumper or fender has to be a perfect fit.
  • the invention proposes a method of the aforementioned type, comprising at least two steps of positioning the technical front panel with respect to the body shell structure element, particularly a step of vertically positioning the technical front panel, and a step of positioning the technical front panel transversely.
  • the invention proposes a method of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises at least:
  • the method additionally comprises a sixth step during which a longitudinal finger carried by one of the sides of the top edge of the technical front panel is realigned with a complementary third means carried by one of the opposed parts of the body shell structure element in order transversely to re-center the technical front panel.
  • the invention also relates to a vehicle for implementing the method described hereinabove.
  • FIGS. 1 to 5 are schematic views in longitudinal section illustrating the first 5 steps in the method according to the invention
  • FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic views from above illustrating the fourth and sixth steps in the method according to the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the technical front panel.
  • FIGS. 1 to 8 depict the various steps in a method according to the invention. The method will be described with reference to the directions of the trihedral frame of reference “T”, “L”, “V”, where “T” denotes the transverse direction, “L” denotes the longitudinal direction, and “V” denotes the vertical direction.
  • a method such as this is intended to allow at least one transverse underbody structure element 12 , for example a lower cross member, and a technical front panel 14 intended to be mounted at one longitudinal end 16 of a body shell structure element 18 to be mounted on a motor vehicle 10 .
  • the body shell structure element 18 comprises at least two transversely opposed rails 20 and two transversely opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element 18 , particularly sets of fittings intended to support headlamps (not depicted of the vehicle).
  • Each rail 20 carries teardrop mounts 24 which hang down vertically from each rail, and the lower ends 26 of which are intended to carry the underbody structure element 12 , once attached.
  • the technical front panel 14 comprises a central part 28 bearing, in particular, vehicle cooling elements, such as, for example, a radiator 30 and an electric cooling fan unit 32 , to which opposed lateral parts 34 fixed to the opposed vertical edges 36 of the central part 28 , and a top cross member 38 , are connected.
  • vehicle cooling elements such as, for example, a radiator 30 and an electric cooling fan unit 32 , to which opposed lateral parts 34 fixed to the opposed vertical edges 36 of the central part 28 , and a top cross member 38 , are connected.
  • the method according to the invention comprises a first step represented in FIG. 1 , during which the technical front panel is positioned on a transverse underbody structure element 12 via a connecting means 40 that allows said technical front panel to pivot about a transversely directed axis “T” and thus allowing, as will be seen later on in the present description, said technical front panel 14 a vertical translational movement.
  • the connecting means 40 may, for example, very simply consist of at least one tab carried by a lower edge 42 of the technical front panel, which is received in a pad of elastomeric material carried by the top face 44 of the underbody structure element 12 .
  • the entire technical front panel 14 and underbody structure element 12 assembly may be brought in under the vehicle 10 when being mounted on the assembly line by a truck 46 which carries other parts of the vehicle, for example an engine 48 .
  • the method comprises a second step during which the technical front panel 14 is pivoted forward about the connecting means 40 of transverse axis.
  • This configuration makes it possible to prevent parts of the technical front panel 14 that may have a transverse size greater than the transverse size of the teardrop mounts 24 from coming into contact with these mounts when the assembly consisting of the technical front panel 14 and of the underbody structure element 12 is raised up later.
  • the technical front panel 14 is pivoted in such a way in the “L” direction and about the “T” direction, in such a way that at least a first means 50 carried by an upper edge 52 of the technical front panel 14 encounters a complementary second means 54 carried by at least one of the transversely opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element.
  • the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel comprises, at each of its ends 56 , the first means 50 of which a guide element 58 or “throat” comprising at least one surface that is inclined upward from rear to front which is intended to ride up onto an associated corresponding flat surface 54 that forms the second means carried by each of the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element.
  • the first means 50 of the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel 14 comprises, forward of the guide element 58 , a flat surface 60 intended to rest on the associated corresponding flat surface 54 carried by each of the parts of the body shell structure element 22 .
  • the technical front panel 14 is pushed rearward on the motor vehicle 10 so that the first means 50 rides up onto the second means 54 , the technical front panel 14 lifting up from the transverse underbody structure element.
  • This configuration allows the technical front panel 14 to come to rest against the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element while at the same time leaving its support on the underbody structure element 12 .
  • the guide element 58 crosses the associated flat surface 54 of the corresponding part of the part 22 of the body shell structure element, then the flat surface 60 of the first means 50 which rests on said flat surface 54 .
  • the invention is therefore particularly advantageous in this in that it allows the vertical position of the technical front panel 14 to be determined with respect to the parts 22 of the body shell structure element rather than with respect to the underbody structure element 12 , thus allowing far more precise positioning of a bumper or fender attached to the technical front panel with respect to the body shell structure element 18 .
  • Another particularly innovative feature of the method according to the invention is that it also allows the technical front panel 14 to be positioned transversely.
  • the forward movement of the technical front panel in the direction “L” also causes the forward movement of a longitudinal finger 62 which, carried by one of the sides of the top edge of the technical front panel 14 .
  • the method according to the invention may additionally comprise a sixth step during which the longitudinal finger is realigned with a complementary third means 64 carried by one of the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element, in order transversely to re-center the technical front panel 14 .
  • the complementary means 64 is, for example, a reference element intended to collaborate with the finger 62 carried by the side of the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel 14 , particularly a drilling intended to accept the finger 62 or, as depicted here, a vertical flat surface 64 intended to have the finger 62 butt transversely against it.
  • Realignment is then performed by a transverse push performed on the technical front panel 14 in the direction “T”, which panel can then be definitively immobilized by any known means of the prior art, particularly using screws or bolts.
  • the invention therefore allows precise positioning, both vertically and transversely, of a technical front panel 14 on a motor vehicle body shell structure element 18 .

Abstract

A vehicle includes an underbody structure element, a technical front panel, and at least one body shell structure element. The technical front panel includes a central part carrying vehicle cooling elements, opposed parts fixed to opposite vertical edges of the central part, and a top cross member including a top edge. One end of the body shell structure element includes two opposed rails extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and two opposed parts that accept the technical front panel. The technical front panel pivots about a transverse axis of the vehicle on the underbody structure element when being mounted to the body shell structure element. The technical front panel is separated from the underbody structure element when fully mounted to the body shell structure element.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 12/594,437 filed Mar. 2, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from International Application No. PCT/FR08/050496, filed Mar. 21, 2008, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to French Application No. 0754227 filed Apr. 3, 2007.
BACKGROUND
The invention relates to a method for mounting, on a motor vehicle, at least one transverse underbody structure element and a technical front panel which is intended to be mounted at a longitudinal end of a body shell structure element of the vehicle.
The invention relates more specifically to a method for mounting, on a motor vehicle, at least one transverse underbody structure element and a technical front panel which is intended to be mounted at a longitudinal end of a body shell structure element comprising two transversely opposed rails and two transversely opposed parts of the body shell structure element.
Numerous examples of mounting methods of this type are known.
It is known practice using such a method to mount a vehicle underbody structure element upward in a vertical direction.
For example, it is known practice to mount a cross member upward in the vertical direction under elements or teardrop mounts which hang down vertically from the rails of the vehicle.
It is possible at the same time to mount a technical front panel that rests on the underbody structure element of the vehicle.
Hence, document FR-A-2 838 094 discloses how to mount vertically upward the assembly that consists of the cross member and of the technical front panel resting on said cross member.
In some cases, the transverse size of the technical front panel makes it impossible to mount directly in the vertical direction. This is the case, for example, when the transverse size of the technical front panel exceeds the transverse size of teardrop mounts.
In such circumstances, it is known practice for the technical front panel to be positioned on the cross member that forms the underbody structure element, to then tilt it forward slightly and then attach the cross member under the teardrop mounts, the technical front panel then slipping in front of the teardrop mounts, before finally angling the technical front face back against the longitudinal end of the body shell structure element before attaching it thereto.
In such circumstances, the final position of the technical front panel is determined by its prior positioning on the underbody structure element.
Now, in most present-day vehicles, the technical front panel also carries a fair number of points of attachment for vehicle bodywork elements, particularly attachment points for a vehicle front bumper or fender.
The final positioning of these attachment points is of key importance to the final aesthetic look of the vehicle. Specifically, the bumper or fender has to be fitted very accurately with respect to the vehicle body shell structure element which is intended to carry bodywork elements such as the hood, the wings or the headlamps, with which the bumper or fender has to be a perfect fit.
Now, the positional clearances for the underbody structure element are very imprecise, because the teardrop mounts to which this element is attached have themselves been fitted with excessive clearances with respect to the body shell structure element of the vehicle, and also using a different frame of reference.
It would therefore be desirable to be able to position the technical front panel directly with respect to the bodyshell structure element of the vehicle in order to guarantee minimal positioning tolerances, while at the same time keeping to the mounting method described hereinabove, performed upward in a vertical direction, which is particularly well suited to mass assembly on a production line.
BRIEF SUMMARY
To this end, the invention proposes a method of the aforementioned type, comprising at least two steps of positioning the technical front panel with respect to the body shell structure element, particularly a step of vertically positioning the technical front panel, and a step of positioning the technical front panel transversely.
To this end, the invention proposes a method of the aforementioned type, characterized in that it comprises at least:
    • a first step during which the technical front panel is positioned on a transverse underbody structure element via a connecting means that allows said technical front panel to pivot about an axis that is transverse and allows said technical front panel a vertical translational movement,
    • a second step during which the technical front panel is pivoted forward about the connecting means of transverse axis,
    • a third step during which the underbody structure element and the technical front panel in the tilted position are moved upward as far as the vehicle,
    • a fourth step during which the technical front panel is pivoted in such a way that at least a first means carried by an upper edge of the technical front panel encounters a complementary second means carried by at least one of the transversely opposed parts of the body shell structure element,
    • a fifth step during which the technical front panel is pushed rearward on the motor vehicle so that the first means rides up onto the second means, the technical front panel lifting up from the transverse underbody structure element.
The method additionally comprises a sixth step during which a longitudinal finger carried by one of the sides of the top edge of the technical front panel is realigned with a complementary third means carried by one of the opposed parts of the body shell structure element in order transversely to re-center the technical front panel.
The invention also relates to a vehicle for implementing the method described hereinabove.
According to other features of the invention:
    • the technical front panel comprises a central part carrying, in particular, vehicle cooling elements, opposed lateral parts fixed to the opposite vertical edges of the central part, and a top cross member comprising the top edge,
    • the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel comprises, at each of its ends, the first means including a guide element or “throat” comprising at least one surface that is inclined upward from rear to front and is intended to ride up along an associated corresponding flat surface that forms the second means carried by each of the opposed parts of the body shell structure element,
    • the first means of the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel comprises, forward of the guide element, a flat surface intended to rest on the associated corresponding flat surface carried by each of the parts of the body shell structure element,
    • one of the parts of the body shell structure element comprises a reference element intended to collaborate with the finger carried by the side of the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel, particularly a drilling intended to accept the finger or a flat surface intended to have the finger butt transversely against it.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the detailed description which follows, for an understanding of which reference will be made to the attached drawings in which:
FIGS. 1 to 5 are schematic views in longitudinal section illustrating the first 5 steps in the method according to the invention,
FIGS. 6 to 8 are schematic views from above illustrating the fourth and sixth steps in the method according to the invention,
FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the technical front panel.
 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the description which will follow, identical reference numerals denote components that are identical or perform similar functions.
FIGS. 1 to 8 depict the various steps in a method according to the invention. The method will be described with reference to the directions of the trihedral frame of reference “T”, “L”, “V”, where “T” denotes the transverse direction, “L” denotes the longitudinal direction, and “V” denotes the vertical direction.
In the known way, a method such as this is intended to allow at least one transverse underbody structure element 12, for example a lower cross member, and a technical front panel 14 intended to be mounted at one longitudinal end 16 of a body shell structure element 18 to be mounted on a motor vehicle 10.
In the known way, the body shell structure element 18 comprises at least two transversely opposed rails 20 and two transversely opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element 18, particularly sets of fittings intended to support headlamps (not depicted of the vehicle). Each rail 20 carries teardrop mounts 24 which hang down vertically from each rail, and the lower ends 26 of which are intended to carry the underbody structure element 12, once attached.
As illustrated by FIGS. 1 to 8 and more specifically by FIG. 9, the technical front panel 14 comprises a central part 28 bearing, in particular, vehicle cooling elements, such as, for example, a radiator 30 and an electric cooling fan unit 32, to which opposed lateral parts 34 fixed to the opposed vertical edges 36 of the central part 28, and a top cross member 38, are connected.
According to the invention, the method according to the invention comprises a first step represented in FIG. 1, during which the technical front panel is positioned on a transverse underbody structure element 12 via a connecting means 40 that allows said technical front panel to pivot about a transversely directed axis “T” and thus allowing, as will be seen later on in the present description, said technical front panel 14 a vertical translational movement.
The connecting means 40 may, for example, very simply consist of at least one tab carried by a lower edge 42 of the technical front panel, which is received in a pad of elastomeric material carried by the top face 44 of the underbody structure element 12.
The entire technical front panel 14 and underbody structure element 12 assembly may be brought in under the vehicle 10 when being mounted on the assembly line by a truck 46 which carries other parts of the vehicle, for example an engine 48.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the method comprises a second step during which the technical front panel 14 is pivoted forward about the connecting means 40 of transverse axis. This configuration makes it possible to prevent parts of the technical front panel 14 that may have a transverse size greater than the transverse size of the teardrop mounts 24 from coming into contact with these mounts when the assembly consisting of the technical front panel 14 and of the underbody structure element 12 is raised up later.
Next, during a third step which has been depicted in FIG. 3, the underbody structure element 12 and the technical front panel 14 in the tilted position are moved upward in the direction “V” as far as the vehicle 10, so that the top face 44 of the element 12 comes into contact with the bottom end of the teardrop mounts 26.
During a fourth step which has been depicted in FIG. 4, the technical front panel 14 is pivoted in such a way in the “L” direction and about the “T” direction, in such a way that at least a first means 50 carried by an upper edge 52 of the technical front panel 14 encounters a complementary second means 54 carried by at least one of the transversely opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element.
More specifically, as illustrated by FIGS. 6 to 8, the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel comprises, at each of its ends 56, the first means 50 of which a guide element 58 or “throat” comprising at least one surface that is inclined upward from rear to front which is intended to ride up onto an associated corresponding flat surface 54 that forms the second means carried by each of the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element.
Advantageously, as illustrated by FIGS. 6 to 8, the first means 50 of the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel 14 comprises, forward of the guide element 58, a flat surface 60 intended to rest on the associated corresponding flat surface 54 carried by each of the parts of the body shell structure element 22.
Specifically, during a fifth step, the technical front panel 14 is pushed rearward on the motor vehicle 10 so that the first means 50 rides up onto the second means 54, the technical front panel 14 lifting up from the transverse underbody structure element. This configuration allows the technical front panel 14 to come to rest against the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element while at the same time leaving its support on the underbody structure element 12. During this step, the guide element 58 crosses the associated flat surface 54 of the corresponding part of the part 22 of the body shell structure element, then the flat surface 60 of the first means 50 which rests on said flat surface 54.
The invention is therefore particularly advantageous in this in that it allows the vertical position of the technical front panel 14 to be determined with respect to the parts 22 of the body shell structure element rather than with respect to the underbody structure element 12, thus allowing far more precise positioning of a bumper or fender attached to the technical front panel with respect to the body shell structure element 18.
Another particularly innovative feature of the method according to the invention is that it also allows the technical front panel 14 to be positioned transversely.
As illustrated by FIG. 7, during the fifth step, the forward movement of the technical front panel in the direction “L” also causes the forward movement of a longitudinal finger 62 which, carried by one of the sides of the top edge of the technical front panel 14.
Thus, as illustrated by FIG. 8, the method according to the invention may additionally comprise a sixth step during which the longitudinal finger is realigned with a complementary third means 64 carried by one of the opposed parts 22 of the body shell structure element, in order transversely to re-center the technical front panel 14.
The complementary means 64 is, for example, a reference element intended to collaborate with the finger 62 carried by the side of the top edge 52 of the cross member 38 of the technical front panel 14, particularly a drilling intended to accept the finger 62 or, as depicted here, a vertical flat surface 64 intended to have the finger 62 butt transversely against it.
Realignment is then performed by a transverse push performed on the technical front panel 14 in the direction “T”, which panel can then be definitively immobilized by any known means of the prior art, particularly using screws or bolts.
The invention therefore allows precise positioning, both vertically and transversely, of a technical front panel 14 on a motor vehicle body shell structure element 18.

Claims (7)

The invention claimed is:
1. A vehicle comprising:
an underbody structure element;
a technical front panel including a central part carrying vehicle cooling elements, opposed parts fixed to opposite vertical edges of the central part, and a top cross member comprising a top edge; and
at least one body shell structure element of which one end comprises two opposed rails extending along a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and two opposed parts that accept the technical front panel,
wherein the technical front panel pivots about a transverse axis of the vehicle on the underbody structure element when being mounted to the body shell structure element, and
wherein the technical front panel is lifted up from the underbody structure element such that the technical front panel is no longer in contact with the underbody structure element when fully mounted to the body shell structure element.
2. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel comprises, at each of its ends, a first mechanism including a guide element or throat comprising at least one surface that is inclined upward relative to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle from rear to front and is intended to ride up along an associated corresponding flat surface that forms a second mechanism carried by each of the two opposed parts of the body shell structure element.
3. The vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first mechanism of the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel comprises, forward of the guide element in the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a flat surface that rests on the associated corresponding flat surface carried by each of the two opposed parts of the body shell structure element when the technical front panel is fully mounted to the body shell structure element.
4. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the two opposed parts of the body shell structure element comprises a reference element to collaborate with a finger carried by one side of the top edge of the cross member of the technical front panel.
5. The vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reference element is a flat surface that the finger butts transversely against when the technical front panel is fully mounted to the body shell structure element.
6. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two opposed parts of the body shell structure element are fittings that support headlamps of the vehicle.
7. The vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the technical panel includes at least one tab on a lower edges of the technical panel, and the at least one tab is received in a pad of elastomeric material on a top face of the underbody structure element.
US13/347,351 2007-04-03 2012-01-10 Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting Expired - Fee Related US8523276B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US13/347,351 US8523276B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2012-01-10 Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0754227A FR2914618B1 (en) 2007-04-03 2007-04-03 METHOD FOR MOUNTING A CROSS-SECTIONAL ELEMENT AND A TECHNICAL FRONT PANEL
FR0754227 2007-04-03
PCT/FR2008/050496 WO2008139071A2 (en) 2007-04-03 2008-03-21 Method for mounting a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel on a motor vehicle
US59443710A 2010-03-02 2010-03-02
US13/347,351 US8523276B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2012-01-10 Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting

Related Parent Applications (3)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/594,437 Division US8245382B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2008-03-21 Method of mounting on a motor vehicle an underbody structural element and a technical front end the method including pivoting the technical front end using a connecting mechanism that connects the technical front end to the under body element
PCT/FR2008/050496 Division WO2008139071A2 (en) 2007-04-03 2008-03-21 Method for mounting a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel on a motor vehicle
US59443710A Division 2007-04-03 2010-03-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
US20120104801A1 US20120104801A1 (en) 2012-05-03
US8523276B2 true US8523276B2 (en) 2013-09-03

Family

ID=38691908

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/594,437 Expired - Fee Related US8245382B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2008-03-21 Method of mounting on a motor vehicle an underbody structural element and a technical front end the method including pivoting the technical front end using a connecting mechanism that connects the technical front end to the under body element
US13/347,351 Expired - Fee Related US8523276B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2012-01-10 Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US12/594,437 Expired - Fee Related US8245382B2 (en) 2007-04-03 2008-03-21 Method of mounting on a motor vehicle an underbody structural element and a technical front end the method including pivoting the technical front end using a connecting mechanism that connects the technical front end to the under body element

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (2) US8245382B2 (en)
EP (1) EP2132055B1 (en)
JP (1) JP5220095B2 (en)
KR (1) KR101508702B1 (en)
CN (1) CN101678758B (en)
FR (1) FR2914618B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2008139071A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2936771B1 (en) * 2008-10-03 2011-06-10 Renault Sas ARRANGEMENT FOR THE MOUNTING OF A TECHNICAL FRONT OF A VEHICLE.
JP6390136B2 (en) * 2014-03-27 2018-09-19 三菱自動車工業株式会社 Vehicle front structure and vehicle front assembly method
KR20180094615A (en) 2017-02-16 2018-08-24 엘지이노텍 주식회사 Liquid lens and camera module module including the same

Citations (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1648804A (en) * 1926-12-11 1927-11-08 Liberty Dev Company Radiator construction
US3123170A (en) 1964-03-03 Radiator with resilient mounting
US3834478A (en) * 1973-03-28 1974-09-10 Caterpillar Tractor Co Pivotal guard for a vehicle
US6364403B1 (en) * 1999-10-20 2002-04-02 Denso Corporation Vehicle front end structure
US20020053806A1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-05-09 Jean-Louis Lanard Front face with protective trim for a motor vehicle
US6409256B1 (en) * 2001-01-23 2002-06-25 Guardian Industries Corp. Multi-piece applique for vehicle B-pillar
JP2003237628A (en) 2002-02-15 2003-08-27 Denso Corp Front-end structure of vehicle
JP2003327162A (en) 2002-05-13 2003-11-19 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Body front structure for automobile, and assembling method for body front part
US20050062315A1 (en) 2002-02-20 2005-03-24 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle and method for detachably fixing a cooling module to an assembly support of a front end
US20050178604A1 (en) * 2004-02-17 2005-08-18 Burnham William M. Structural carrier assembly for a motor vehicle
FR2870197A1 (en) 2004-05-14 2005-11-18 Renault Sas Motor vehicle`s frontal module, has hooks for temporarily mounting support cross piece on body shell of motor vehicle in intermediate position which is shifted with respect to transversal fixation position of cross piece
US20060213639A1 (en) * 2005-03-28 2006-09-28 Calsonic Kansei Corporation Radiator core support structure and its assembly method
US7150335B2 (en) * 2003-04-24 2006-12-19 Denso Corporation Front end structure of vehicle
US7464984B1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2008-12-16 Mcdaniel Sean A Automobile replacement grill
US8096347B2 (en) * 2006-12-04 2012-01-17 Cnh America Llc Pivotable heat exchanger mounting
US8197108B2 (en) * 2006-05-20 2012-06-12 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Bumper arrangement in or for a motor vehicle

Family Cites Families (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3429839A1 (en) * 1984-08-14 1986-04-24 Adam Opel AG, 6090 Rüsselsheim PRE-ASSEMBLED ASSEMBLY FOR THE BASE OF MOTOR VEHICLES, ESPECIALLY PERSONAL VEHICLES, METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SUCH AN ASSEMBLY AND USE OF SUCH A
JPS638084A (en) * 1986-06-30 1988-01-13 Honda Motor Co Ltd Vehicle body positioning device
JP2933702B2 (en) * 1989-12-21 1999-08-16 マツダ株式会社 Vehicle front body structure and method of assembling the same
JPH0546665U (en) * 1991-11-29 1993-06-22 マツダ株式会社 Front body structure of vehicle
JP2668757B2 (en) * 1992-04-03 1997-10-27 三菱自動車工業株式会社 Bumper assembly device
JP3376648B2 (en) * 1993-09-02 2003-02-10 日産自動車株式会社 Vehicle body front structure and assembly method thereof
WO1997036712A1 (en) * 1996-04-01 1997-10-09 Johnson Bryan T Automotive bumper stand
EP1030800B1 (en) * 1997-10-24 2003-05-21 Decoma International Inc. End module assembly for installation on a vehicle and method for making the same
JP4109791B2 (en) * 1999-04-28 2008-07-02 本田技研工業株式会社 Scooter type vehicle body frame
JP3747811B2 (en) * 2001-06-20 2006-02-22 日産自動車株式会社 Assembling the front end module
KR100428338B1 (en) * 2001-10-16 2004-04-28 현대자동차주식회사 Jig device for bolster assembly of vehicle
JP3666658B2 (en) * 2002-02-14 2005-06-29 マツダ株式会社 Method and apparatus for assembling a radiator module for a vehicle
JP2004136752A (en) * 2002-10-17 2004-05-13 Calsonic Kansei Corp Mounting structure of front end module for vehicle
JP3843968B2 (en) * 2003-06-24 2006-11-08 日産自動車株式会社 Headlamp body positioning method and body positioning structure
JP4172349B2 (en) * 2003-07-31 2008-10-29 マツダ株式会社 Front body structure of the vehicle
JP4228847B2 (en) * 2003-09-08 2009-02-25 株式会社デンソー Vehicle front end structure and front end panel assembly method
JP4368218B2 (en) * 2004-02-12 2009-11-18 本田技研工業株式会社 Component positioning method and apparatus
JP2006044601A (en) * 2004-08-09 2006-02-16 Honda Motor Co Ltd Conveying/installation system
JP4601511B2 (en) * 2005-08-02 2010-12-22 本田技研工業株式会社 Component positioning method and apparatus
FR2899558B1 (en) 2006-04-06 2008-05-16 Renault Sas METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH BASE ELEMENTS
DE102007017167A1 (en) * 2007-04-12 2008-12-04 GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit Motor vehicle e.g. car, assembling method, involves placing chassis module and front module on common carrier in temporary position, pivoting front module into final position, and combining front module, chassis module and body together
KR101076614B1 (en) * 2009-02-24 2011-10-26 한라공조주식회사 Carrier

Patent Citations (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123170A (en) 1964-03-03 Radiator with resilient mounting
US1648804A (en) * 1926-12-11 1927-11-08 Liberty Dev Company Radiator construction
US3834478A (en) * 1973-03-28 1974-09-10 Caterpillar Tractor Co Pivotal guard for a vehicle
US6364403B1 (en) * 1999-10-20 2002-04-02 Denso Corporation Vehicle front end structure
US20020053806A1 (en) * 2000-11-06 2002-05-09 Jean-Louis Lanard Front face with protective trim for a motor vehicle
US6409256B1 (en) * 2001-01-23 2002-06-25 Guardian Industries Corp. Multi-piece applique for vehicle B-pillar
JP2003237628A (en) 2002-02-15 2003-08-27 Denso Corp Front-end structure of vehicle
US20050062315A1 (en) 2002-02-20 2005-03-24 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle and method for detachably fixing a cooling module to an assembly support of a front end
US7246674B2 (en) * 2002-02-20 2007-07-24 Behr Gmbh & Co. Kg Assembly support of a front end of a motor vehicle and method for detachably fixing a cooling module to an assembly support of a front end
JP2003327162A (en) 2002-05-13 2003-11-19 Nissan Motor Co Ltd Body front structure for automobile, and assembling method for body front part
US7150335B2 (en) * 2003-04-24 2006-12-19 Denso Corporation Front end structure of vehicle
US20050178604A1 (en) * 2004-02-17 2005-08-18 Burnham William M. Structural carrier assembly for a motor vehicle
FR2870197A1 (en) 2004-05-14 2005-11-18 Renault Sas Motor vehicle`s frontal module, has hooks for temporarily mounting support cross piece on body shell of motor vehicle in intermediate position which is shifted with respect to transversal fixation position of cross piece
US20060213639A1 (en) * 2005-03-28 2006-09-28 Calsonic Kansei Corporation Radiator core support structure and its assembly method
US8197108B2 (en) * 2006-05-20 2012-06-12 GM Global Technology Operations LLC Bumper arrangement in or for a motor vehicle
US7464984B1 (en) * 2006-05-22 2008-12-16 Mcdaniel Sean A Automobile replacement grill
US8096347B2 (en) * 2006-12-04 2012-01-17 Cnh America Llc Pivotable heat exchanger mounting

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008139071A2 (en) 2008-11-20
CN101678758B (en) 2012-08-29
FR2914618B1 (en) 2009-09-18
CN101678758A (en) 2010-03-24
US20120104801A1 (en) 2012-05-03
EP2132055A2 (en) 2009-12-16
KR20090130097A (en) 2009-12-17
US8245382B2 (en) 2012-08-21
US20100164250A1 (en) 2010-07-01
JP5220095B2 (en) 2013-06-26
JP2010523390A (en) 2010-07-15
KR101508702B1 (en) 2015-04-06
WO2008139071A3 (en) 2009-02-19
FR2914618A1 (en) 2008-10-10
EP2132055B1 (en) 2012-12-26

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20050088015A1 (en) Automobile car body front construction and method of assembling car body front
US20070145754A1 (en) Vehicle side step
US8523276B2 (en) Vehicle including a transverse understructure member and a technical front panel pivotably supported by the transverse understructure member during mounting
US20040222670A1 (en) Cross-member at automobile front
US20220185373A1 (en) Cross member and vehicle frame
US7270368B2 (en) Shroud supporting structure and shroud mounting method
US6979053B2 (en) Reinforcement structure for front end module carrier
KR101366582B1 (en) Method for mounting underbody elements on a motor vehicle
CN212195653U (en) Enclose upper portion assembly, automobile body frame and car before car
JP3941446B2 (en) Body front structure
EP1993897B1 (en) Body panel
CN212529298U (en) Carbon tank support assembly of automobile chassis
CN212637380U (en) Front upright post bracket structure of pickup truck
JPH07156728A (en) Bumper mounting structure
CN217574805U (en) Sliding door structure and vehicle
CN217198032U (en) Protection component of automobile skirt and automobile
CN219295534U (en) Vehicle body and vehicle
JP2554707Y2 (en) Temporary fixing structure of bumper stay
CN217347996U (en) Car suspension mounting structure, suspension assembly and vehicle
US8813340B2 (en) Arrangement for mounting the front technical surface of a vehicle
US20220274654A1 (en) Vehicle aerodynamic cover
JPH0840312A (en) Pare tire pan structure for vehicle
TH42566B (en) Vehicles with the cockpit on top and the cockpit installation method
JP3186856B2 (en) Car door structure
JP2000203460A (en) Car body structure of truck

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: PAYOR NUMBER ASSIGNED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: ASPN); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCF Information on status: patent grant

Free format text: PATENTED CASE

FPAY Fee payment

Year of fee payment: 4

FEPP Fee payment procedure

Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: LARGE ENTITY

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20210903